Tension spring assembly



May 1, 1962 1 J. P. PYKA 3,032,329

TENSION SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN F! PYKA,

INVENTOR.

KENDRICK, SCHRAMM a STOLZY ATTORNEYS.

May 1, 1962 J. P. PYKA 3,032,329

TENSION SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V/JE I] iv,

JOHN R PYKA,

INVENTOR.

KENDRICK, SCHRAMM 8| STOLZY ATTORNEYS.

nite

This invention relates to coiled wire springs, and more particularly to a helical spring having means at each of its ends for attachment to two corresponding structures at least one of which is movable relative to the other.

Although the device of the present invention has been found to have considerable utility in the construction of pivoted garage doors, the scope of its application is relatively large and is by no means limited thereto. However, coiled wire springs used on garage doors have helical turns normally about two inches in diameter and due to their relatively large sizes, they are formidable hazards to persons and property when their end connections break while they are maintained in tension. They have been known to tear holes in garage roofs as much as two feet in diameter.

In addition to the foregoing, the relatively large size of garage door springs also makes them both difficult to mount and diificult to adjust.

The above-described and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome in accordance with the device of the present invention by providing a plate having a notch in it, opposite sides of the plate notch being spaced apart, a distance greater than the diameter of the spring wire for which it provides connecting means. Such a plate may be employed at each end of a coiled wire spring. Each plate may be disc-shaped and threaded in between coiled turns to support the entire tension load on the spring over nearly one complete turn of the coil. Still further, the fact that either one or both of the plates may be threaded in between coiled turns means that the spring may be suspended between, for example, the door jamb and door framework of a garage door while still unstressed. The spring may then be put in tension and the tension adjusted by threading at least one of the plates in between coil turns farther along in the spring from the corresponding end of the spring in which the plate is threaded.

According to a feature of the invention, a tension spring assembly is provided including the helical coil of wire and the disc-shaped plate positioned between two adjacent turns of the coil, the plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the coil. The plate is then provided with a notch in the periphery therof, opposite sides of the notch being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the wire. A portion of the coil connecting the adjacent turns thereof then extends from one side of the plate through the notch to the other side of the plate. Means fixed to the plate are also provided to maintain one end of the spring assembly in a fixed position relative to a selected structure. In this case, means fixed with a plate may also be provided guiding rotation of the plate between the turns of the coil about the longitudinal axis thereof.

Another feature of the invention includes the bending of the last turns at each end of a coil inwardly inside the general cylindrical outline of the coil to prevent rotation of the plate completely outwardly thereof.

According to another feature of the invention, a tension spring assembly is provided again including the helical coil of wire and the disc-shaped plate, the plate having a first lug bent outwardly of the plane of the plate on one side thereof to provide a first notch in the periphery of the plate. Opposite sides of the first notch are again spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the wire and a portion of the coil connecting the adjacent turns thereof extends from one side of the plate through Stats Patent O1 the periphery of the plate.

3,032,329 Patented May 1, 1962 ice the first notch to the other side of the plate. A second lug, however, is also bent outwardly of the plane of the plate on the one side thereof, the lugs being positioned around the plate inside of the coil guiding rotation of the plate between the turns of the coil about the longitudinal axis thereof. Hence, the lugs can serve as the guide means mentioned hereinbefore, and the plates may be constructed of simple metal stampings.

An outstanding feature of the invention resides in a construction of the plates having a spiral pitch starting at one side and terminating at the opposite side of the notch therein through which a portion of the coil extends from one side to the other side of the plate. This spiral pitch is formed in the same direction as that of the turns of the coil to facilitate rotation of the plates therebetween.

Another outstanding feature of the invention resides in a tension spring assembly including the helical coil of wire and the disc-shaped plate. The plate then has a first lug bent outwardly of the plane of the plate on one side thereof to provide a first notch in the periphery of the plate, a portion of the coil connecting the adjacent turns thereof extending from one side of the plate through the first notch to the other side of the plate. A second lug is also bent outwardly of the plane of the plate on the one side thereof, the lugs being positioned around the plate inside of the coil guiding rotation of the plate between the turns of the coil about the longitudinal axis thereof, the lugs being disposed approximately 180 apart around The plate also has a pair of holes through it extending approximately 180 apart and approximately from the lugs. A hook is then provided with a shank portion extending outwardly of one end of the coil and a curved portion extending downwardly through one of the holes and outwardly through the other of the holes, the holes being positioned and the curved portion of the hook having a shape such that the curved portion of the hook fits inside said coil and also guides rotation of the plate between the turns of the coil about the longitudinal axis thereof. Hence, in this case, the plate is guided in between coil turns centrally of the coil not only by the lugs, but also by the curved portion of the hook.

According to an aspect of the invention, a tension spring assembly for connection between two structures, at least one of which is movable relative to the other is provided again including the helical coil of wire and first and second disc-shaped plates. The first plate is positioned between a first two adjacent turns of the coil.

The second disc-shaped plate is positioned between another pair of adjacent turns of the coil. Means fixed with the first plate are then provided holding it in a substantially fixed longitudinal and rotational position relative to one of the structures. Means fixed to the second plate are also provided holding it in a substantially fixed longitudinal position, but in a position rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the coil relative to the other of the structures. Hence, the mounting and adjustment features of the tension spring of the invention are still improved by the use of pivot means to reduce the tendency of one of the plates to turn relative to the coil, whereas the coil may easily be turned manually to thread the other one of the plates farther along in the spring from the end thereof corresponding to the plate to be threaded into the spring.

The above-described and other advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a spring assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a garage door;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the spring assembly;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the spring assembly taken on line 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is.a broken side elevational view of a hook employed with the invention extending through a spiral notched plate thereof;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spring assembly taken on the line 5-5 as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of another spring assembly made in accordance with the invention attached to the garage door in a different position than that shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged broken side elevational views of the end connections of the spring assembly illustrated in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 1, a garage door is indicated at 10 having a framework 11, aflixed thereto, garage door 10 and framework 11 being pivoted at a point 12 to swing upwardly to a position similar to the position indicated in dotted lines at 13 in FIG. 6 of a garage door 14. Spring assembly 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 is employed to aid in lifting the door 10 to its horizontal position above the pivot point 12, spring assembly 15 being connected with a bracket 16 to a door jamb 17 fixed relative to the garage and by a bolt 18 extending through a fork extension 19 of framework 11.

Spring assembly 15 is provided with hooks 20 and 21 at its upper end, each having curved portions 22 and 23, respectively, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and a common shank portion 24. It will be noted that curved portion 22 of hook 20 extends around the bolt 18 as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, curved portion 23 of hook 21 extends downwardly through a hole 25 and again upwardly through a hole 26 in a disc-shaped plate 27. Plate 27 is threaded in between turns of a helically coiled spring 28, shown in FIG. 2 and a curved portion 23 of hook 21 fits loosely inside the turns of spring 28 to guide rotation of the plate 27 between the turns of coil 28, the curved sides of the curved portion 23 of hook 21 being positioned 180 apart around the circumference of plate 27 through holes 25 and 26, respectively, both of which are disposed 180 apart.

Upper and lower ends 29 and 30 of spring 28 are bent inwardly inside the general cylindrical shape of the spring 28 to prevent rotation of plate 27 completely out of the space between the turns of spring 28 and a plate 27 completely out of the space between the turns of spring 28, respectively. Plate 27 and 27 are identical in construction.

The particular construction of plate 27 is perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, plate 27 being provided with upwardly bent lugs 3-1 and 32, formed integrally with plate 27 at positions therearound 180 apart and 90 from the positions of holes 25 and 26. A notch 33 is formed in plate 27 not only at the position where the material thereof is bent up to form lug 31, but also at positions spaced therefrom, whereby opposite sides 34 and 35 of notch 33 are spaced apart at distances substantially greater than the diameter of wire indicated at 36 in FIG. 2 from which spring 28 is made. The diameter of wire 36 is to be distinguished from the outside or inside diameter of the turns of the spring 28. A second notch is formed in plate 27 at 37 which is identical in size to the lug 32 formed by slotting plate 27 at appropriate positions and bending it upwardly as viewed in FIG. 3.

Notch 37 serves no useful purposes except to facilitate the forming of lug 32 integrally with plate 27. However, notch 33 forms a substantial purpose in accordance with the present invention in that a turn 38, shown in FIG. 2, extends from a position adjacent to the bottom of plate 27, through the notch '33 and to a position on top of the plate 27. This means that the tension on spring 28 loads the plate 27 substantially around its complete circumference in that the turn of wire 38, starting at side 35 of notch 33 rests on plate 27 completely around its circumference to notch 37 and from notch 3'7 around to the side 34 of notch 33. The end coupling for the spring 28, provided in accordance with the invention therefore does not load Wire 36 of spring 28 at any particular one point to a considerable extent that prevents the same from breaking due to metal fatigue or for other reasons.

Lugs 31 and 32 serve as guides in a manner similar to the manner in which curved portion 23 of hook 21 projecting above plate 27, as shown in FIG. 4 serves as a guide for rotation of plate 27 relative to spring 28.

The adjustment mechanism of the spring assembly of the invention is not to be confused in that it is of course possible to turn plate 27 between the turns of spring 2 8 or vice versa. The reverse is in fact accomplished in accordance with both types of mountings therefor illus* trated in FIGS. 1 and 6, spring assembly 39 being employed having much the same construction as that illustrated in FIG. 2, but for the location or construction of the end connections thereof indicated at 40 and 41, respectively.

Perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 4 is the fact that plate 27, at least at its outer edge, is provided with a spiral shape in the same direction as the turns of spring 28, whereby rotation of plate 27 relative to spring 28 may be easily accomplished.

The position of plate 27 between the turns of spring 28 is again illustrated in FIG. 5 with lugs 31 and B2 in their appropriate guiding or centering positions. In the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, the plate 27 is always centrally located in spring 28. A hook 42 is provided at the lower end of coil 28 including a curved portion 43 in a shank portion 44. The shape of hook 42 may be identical to the shape of hook 21, the shank portion 44 of hook 42 being different from the shank portion 24 of hook 21, as will be described.

The construction and position of curved portion 43 of hook 42 and plate 27', alone and relative to each other are identical to those illustrated relative to hook 21 and plate 27. The description of the same will therefore not be repeated herein. The shank portion 44 of hook 42 is provided with enlargement at 45 which bears against a washer 46 positioned between bracket 16 and enlargement 45. Bracket 16 therefore retains shank portion 44 of hook 42 in a substantially fixed position relative to movement longitudinally of spring 28, although in a position rotatable relative thereto. Bracket 16 is maintained in a fixed position relative to the door jamb 17 by means of a nut and bolt assembly 47. It is to be noted that door jamb 17 appears to be inclined in FIG. 2 for the reason that the spring 28 is shown vertically disposed in FIG. 2 whereas when it is actually fixed to door jamb 17 it is disposed at an angle with the vertical, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Hook 20 is maintained in a substantially fixed position as far as longitudinal movement relative to spring 28 goes by its connection to fork 19 at bolt 18. Although hook 20 may rotate about bolt 18, it cannot turn in fork 19 about the longitudinal axis of spring 28. This means that spring assembly 15 may be mounted in a position illustrated in FIG. 1 by placing it between brackets 16 in bolt 18 before it is actually under tension. After the spring assembly 17 has been so placed, spring 28 may be turned manually by hand until it rotates upwardly around plate 27 to put spring 28 in tension. Tension of spring 28 from time to time may also be adjusted in the same manner.

As stated previously, spring assembly 39 showing FIG. 6 may be substantially identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, with the exception of the end connections 40 and 41. End connection 40 is made to a framework 11 fixed to garage door 14. Framework 11' may be identical to a framework illustrated at 11 in FIG. 1 except for the absence of fork 19 fixed thereto.

End connection 40 is illustrated in FIG. 7 including a strap 48 welded at 49 to a part 50, part 50 being a portion of the framework 11. Strap 48 is U-shaped at its outer end through which a bolt 51 projects to hold the lower end of spring assembly 39 in a fixed position to framework 11 a hook 20' extending therearound in such a fixed position, hook 20 being identical to hook 20 and having a hook corresponding to hook 21 fixed thereto and having a common shank portion corresponding to shank portion 24, none of the latter of which are shown in FIG. 7.

End connection 41 is indicated in FIG. 8 including a member 52 fixed to a rafter 53 of the garage as indicated in FIG. 6 to which a bracket 16' is bolted at 54. Bracket 16' holds a shank portion 44' of a book of 42' identical to hook 42 in the same manner that shank portion 44 of hook 42 is held by bracket 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Shank portion 44 is provided with enlargement 45 which extends on the opposite side of washer 46 positioned adjacent bracket 16, both the enlargement 45' and 46' being identical to enlargement 45 and washer 46 illustrated in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that plates 27 and 27 may be employed to support the load on coiled spring 28 over a substantially complete turn thereof, starting at the side 35 of notch 33 and extending around to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 to the side 34 of notch 33. Still further, the fact that either oneor both of the plates 27 and 27 may be threaded in between the turns of spring 28 means that the spring 28 may be suspended between, for example, the door jamb 17 and fork 19 of framework 11 of garage door while it is unstressed and thereafter put in tension and the tension adjusted by simply turning spring 28 by hand.

The plates 27 and 27' may be made of single metal stampings and hooks 20, 21 and 42 may be conventional. Hence, the invention is extremely simple to construct yet extremely effective.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for two uses as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, respectively, many changes and modifications will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It will be obvious that spring 28 may be formed in a helix of a left-hand pitch rather than a right-hand pitch as shown in FIG. 2. Still further, it will be appreciated that hook 42 may be constructed and mounted as hooks 20 and 21 so that the same will be held in a fixed rotatable position as well as a fixed longitudinal position. Note hook 20 cannot turn in fork 19 about shank portion 24 and that hook 20' cannot turn in strap 49. The invention is therefore not to be limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, the true scope thereof being defined only in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tension spring assembly comprising: a helical coil of wire; a disc-shaped plate positioned between two adjacent turns of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a first lug bent outwardly of the plane of said plate on one side thereof to provide a first notch in the periphery of said plate, opposite sides of said first notch being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the wire, a portion of said coil extending from a position adjacent one side of said plate through said first notch to a position adjacent the other side of said plate, a second lug bent outwardly of the plane of said plate on said one side thereof, said lugs being positioned around said plate inside of said coil guiding rotation of said plate between the turns of said coil about the longitudinal axis thereof, said lugs being disposed approximately 180 apart around the periphery of said plate, said plate also having a pair of holes therethrough extending approximately 180 apart and approximately from said lugs; and a hook having a shank portion extending outwardly of one end of said coil and a curved portion extending downwardly through one of said holes and outwardly through the other of said holes, said holes being positioned and said curved portion of said hook having a shape such that the curved portion of said hook fits inside said coil and also guides rotation of said plate between the turns of said coil about the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. A tension spring assembly comprising: a helical coil of wire; a disc-shaped plate positioned between two adjacent turns of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a first lug bent outwardly of the plane of said plate on one side thereof to provide a first notch in the periphery of said plate, opposite sides of said first notch being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the wire, a portion of said coil extending from a position adjacent one side of said plate through said first notch to a position adjacent the other side of said plate, a second lug bent outwardly of the plane of said plate on said one side thereof, said lugs being positioned around said plate inside of said coil guiding rotation of said plate between the turns of said coil about the longitudinal axis thereof, said lugs being disposed approximately apart around the periphery of said plate, said plate also having a pair of holes therethrough extending approximately 180 apart and approximately 90 from said lugs; and a hook having a shank portion extending outwardly of one end of said coil and a curved portion extending downwardly throught one of said holes and outwardly through the other of said holes, said holes being positioned and said curved portion of said hook having a shape such that the curved portion of said hook fits inside said coil and also guides rotation of said plate between the turns of said coil about the longitudinal axis thereof, an end turn of said coil of wire being bent out of the generally cylindrical shape thereof for intercepting said guides to prevent rotation of said plate outwardly from between the turns of said coil.

3. A tension spring assembly comprising: a helical coil of wire; a disc-shaped plate positioned between two adjacent turns of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a notch in the periphery thereof, opposite sides of said notch being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the wire, a portion of said coil extending from a position adjacent one side of said plate through said first notch to a position adjacent the other side of said plate, said plate also having a pair of holes therethrough extending approximately 180 apart; and a hook having a shank portion extending outwardly of one end of said coil and a curved portion extending downwardly through one of said holes and outwardly through the other of said holes.

4. A tension spring assembly comprising: a helical coil of wire; a disc-shaped plate positioned between two adjacent turns of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a notch in the periphery thereof, opposite sides of said notch being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the wire, a portion of said coil extending from a position adjacent one side of said plate throught said first notch to a position adjacent the other side of said plate, said plate also having a pair of holes therethrough extending approximately 180 apart; and a hook having a shank portion extending outwardly of one end of said coil and a curved portion extending downwardly through one of said holes and outwardly through the other of said holes, an end turn of said coil of wire being bent out of the generally cylindrical shape thereof for intercepting said guides to prevent rotation of said plate outwardly from between the turns of said coil.

5. A tension spring assembly comprising: a helical coil of wire; a disc-shaped plate positioned between two adjacent turns of said coil, said plate having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said coil, said plate having a notch in the periphery thereof, opposite sides of said notch being space-d apart a distance greater than the diameter of the vw're, a portion of said coil extending from a position adjacent one side of said plate through said first notch to a position adjacent the other side of said plate, said plate also having a pair of holes therethrough extending approximately 180 apart; and a hook having a shank portion extending outwardly of one end of said coil and a curved portion extending downward-1y through one of said holes and outwardly through the other of said holes, said holes being positioned and said curved portion of said hook having a shape such that the curved portion of said hook fits inside said coil and also guides a rotation of said plate between the turns of said coil about the longitudinal axis thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 841,227 Chellis Ian. 15, 1907 1,116,268 Hansen Nov. 3, 1914 2,400,425 Liber May 14, 1946 2,684,238 Robinson July 20, 1954 

